Funing Hall.
Ever since the Emperor fainted during Empress Xue's visit during the day, the entire Funing Palace has been in constant turmoil.
Xue Yinjia herself was not fully recovered. When Pei Yuanhui woke up and saw Xue Yinjia by the bedside, he sighed.
In the end, it was Pei Yuanhui who spoke up and told the Empress to go back first.
After all, Empress Xue's health was not good either. If she stayed by his side, she would probably fall ill within a day.
Empress Xue could not refuse, so she kept Chunbai, who served her personally, in front of her.
Empress Xue could not serve the emperor, but Consort Chi and Consort Zhuang could. Apart from them, the other concubines in the palace were also very attentive, but most of them were stopped by Consort Chi.
At this moment, the inherent authority of Consort Chi became evident.
However, there were still some impatient people like Consort Zhou who would clamor outside the Funing Palace to see the Emperor.
Even after Pei Yuanhui woke up, he couldn't find peace and quiet, but he refused to see anyone.
After nightfall, he didn't let Consort Chi and the others stay to serve him. With so many people guarding the Funing Palace, he couldn't get a good night's sleep.
It was still scorching hot in Tianjing City at the end of August. After having dinner, Pei Yuanhui drank the herbal medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. He was feeling drowsy and only casually turned a page of the book in his hand.
"Your Majesty, it's late. Be careful not to strain your eyes reading at this hour."
Jin Yang came inside and changed the candlelight beside the bed, and moved the glass cup closer.
"You caught a cold, and Aunt Zhu Yu, who serves the Empress Dowager, sent someone to inquire about you and also sent a lot of things."
Pei Yuanhui didn't even blink. He curled his fingers, raised his hand, and lazily yawned.
"Put it away. Although I have caught a cold, I cannot skip tomorrow's morning court. Tomorrow's morning court will proceed as usual. What gifts have been sent from the inner palace?"
After lying in the Funing Palace for half a day, Pei Yuanhui was in good spirits and even had time to ask about these trivial matters of the inner palace.
It was as if I were listening to a joke.
Jin Yang understood the meaning behind the official's words, but instead of replying immediately, he offered some advice.
"You've caught a cold, how can you go to the morning court while you're sick? Your Majesty, your health is the most important thing."
Jin Yang naturally knew the reason for the Emperor's illness this time, but he still couldn't help but offer advice.
It's understandable that the emperor is ill and wouldn't attend the morning court session.
Pei Yuanhui waved his hand: "Stop nagging me. Say something I want to hear."
Jin Yang obediently shut up. After thinking it over, he decided to just speak honestly.
"Consort Zhuang said that His Majesty was ill, so she went to Baohua Palace to personally request a peace charm."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanhui felt both amused and exasperated: "I just have a cold. People who don't know better would think I have some serious illness. Put it away. Over the years, she has obtained countless amulets for me to keep safe."
Jin Yang nodded upon hearing this and continued, "Consort Ruan personally made a radish and crucian carp soup, which was kept warm in the small kitchen. However, the Imperial Concubine said that the fish soup was fishy during dinner, so it was not served."
Pei Yuanhui chuckled out loud this time: "The Imperial Concubine is still throwing a tantrum at a time like this."
Jin Yang smiled upon hearing this: "The Imperial Concubine also had someone make silver thread fish soup. This servant smells it and it smells delicious."
Pei Yuanhui raised the scroll to cover his face: "Continue."
Jin Yang said, "Hey, considering it's hot, and Madam Cao's foot is only getting better, plus the nanny is comforting her, but Madam Cao also had someone bring her some soup. The kitchen has plenty of soup today."
Pei Yuanhui hummed in agreement: "Later, have the people in the imperial court distribute it. Tell them not to send anything else tomorrow. This constant extravagance, sending and receiving things back and forth..."
He coughed twice before he could finish speaking.
Jin Yang also stopped talking and hurriedly went to fetch a teacup.
He had just picked up his teacup when he suddenly heard footsteps outside.
"Your Majesty, Consort Cheng of Changchun Palace and Consort Huo of Yanxi Palace have sent some things over." It was Miao Xi's voice.
Jin Yang first brought in a teacup and waited for the Emperor's instructions.
However, he was puzzled. Most of the concubines in the harem sent gifts during the day, but Consort Cheng and Consort Huo were clever enough to send their gifts at night after everyone had left.
Pei Yuanhui raised his hand and took the book off, then yawned: "Bring the things in."
He sat up, took the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.
Jin Yang hurriedly went out and carried the things inside with Miao Xi.
It's quite a coincidence that Consort Cheng and Consort Huo both sent a small wooden box; no one knows what's inside.
Pei Yuanhui placed the teacup aside: "Let's open them together."
Two small wooden boxes of different materials were opened together.
The box that Jin Yang was holding contained a white jade love knot, which looked to be made of warm jade. There was also a piece of paper next to it, which should have been written by Consort Cheng.
The other box contained a dish of pear syrup candy, and next to the candy was a note.
Pei Yuanhui raised his hand.
The two then stepped forward together.
Pei Yuanhui first picked up the colored paper next to the white jade pendant, and he knew who wrote it as soon as he saw the handwriting.
He taught Consort Cheng her calligraphy; it was elegant yet possessed a strong character.
Consort Cheng sent over a warm jade love knot that Pei Yuanhui had bestowed upon her when she was first appointed as a Baolin (Imperial Consort). He said that since Consort Cheng could not come to attend to him while he was ill, he could only use this love knot to warm his heart.
Pei Yuanhui neither agreed nor disagreed, and put the letter back into the box.
Before he even picked up the letter from the other box, he burst out laughing and cursing.
"Did Xiao Huo send this pear syrup candy? It looks so sweet."
Jin Yang chimed in, "This servant has heard that pear syrup is the best remedy for coughs. Your Majesty has been suffering from a persistent cold and cough, and the imperial physician has prescribed fritillaria and loquat soup, but Your Majesty refuses to drink it."
Pei Yuanhui raised his hand and picked up the letter.
Xiao Huo's handwriting isn't particularly beautiful, but it's neat and orderly, clearly not something he practiced from a young age.
But Pei Yuanhui smiled upon seeing only the first line of the letter.
Xiao Huo's thinking is quite clever.
In her letter, Xiao Huo wrote that when she caught a cold as a child, her family would make pear syrup candy for her to eat. The medicine was extremely bitter and hard to drink, but after eating the pear syrup candy, she no longer felt bitter.
However, she was a glutton when she was young, and after recovering from a cold, she would occasionally sneak some pear syrup candy, which caused her to suffer from persistent toothache.
Huo Qinghe expressed her frustration and regret in the letter, saying that she had been caught stealing pear syrup candy and that she hadn't been able to eat it for a long time afterward.
Now that I've entered the palace, I've finally had the chance to taste the delicious pear syrup candy again.
Pei Yuanhui folded the letter and looked at the pear syrup candy in the box. All he could think of was Xiao Huo's delicate face with her cheek covered.
He put the letter back into the box, just like before.
Then he slowly raised his hand and picked up a piece of pear syrup candy.
It's sticky to the touch.
Pei Yuanhui ate a piece of pear syrup candy with a look of disgust.
"Take it and boil it into pear syrup soup. It's too greasy to eat."
Jin Yang agreed and then took a handkerchief to wipe Pei Yuanhui's hands.
"This servant will go right away. His Majesty has eaten and drunk the pear soup, and his cough has improved a lot. This servant can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Pei Yuanhui waved his hand, as if he hadn't heard.
"Leave your things behind."
Whose things were left behind?
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